Do you always get stitches after wisdom teeth removal

After your wisdom teeth are removed, your oral surgeon will secure the site with stitches. These stitches, also called sutures, will help your mouth to heal and will also help to prevent infections. Taking care of your stitches will put you well on your way to a full recovery. Read on to learn how to care for your wisdom teeth stitches properly.

Different Types of Wisdom Teeth Stitches

There are two main types of sutures, though both serve the same purpose. The first type are just standard stitches, which your oral surgeon will remove about a week after your surgery. Dissolvable stitches are the other option, and also the choice that most oral surgeons prefer. These sutures will disintegrate in the mouth, which means you won’t need them removed at all. It can take several weeks for the stitches to fully dissolve.

Caring For Wisdom Teeth Stitches

After your surgery, it is important to be extra gentle with your surgery site. Carefully rinsing your mouth with salt water or a prescription mouthwash can help to ease discomfort. You should also be careful not to brush directly over your stitches until your oral surgeon says it’s okay. Finally, be careful not to disturb the blood clot that will form beneath the stitches. This is a normal part of the healing process.

Looking Out For Infections

Infections are rare after wisdom tooth extractions, but they can still happen. Your surgeon might prescribe antibiotics to prevent infections, which you should take as directed. Be sure to finish the entire course of antibiotics, even if you are feeling better halfway through. Use a mirror to look at your surgery site, and call your provider if you notice oozing, swelling, or if your pain gets worse during recovery.

Talk To Your Oral Surgeon

Your dentist and/or oral surgeon will give you specific care instructions before your surgery so that you can have a good recovery. Follow these instructions, and be sure to call your surgeon if you have any questions. Caring for wisdom teeth stitches can be confusing, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

The types of stitches oral surgeons use for wisdom teeth extractions are dissolvable stitches. The reason is that these stitches break down on their own.

Wisdom teeth stitches take around a few weeks to fall out, or sometimes they may take around a month to dissolve entirely. The falling out of wisdom teeth stitches depends on many factors such as:

  • the material of stitch used
  • type and size of stitch
  • the severity of tooth removal surgery

For some surgeries, the dentists may not use dissolvable stitches. In such a case, they will tell when to come back for the removal of stitches.

The stitches that don’t dissolve on their own are called removable stitches, and they are taken out around a week or 1 or 2 days more after the procedure.

Do wisdom teeth stitches hurt?

For the first 24-48 hours, you may experience pain due to stitches. However, the pain wouldn’t be very different because your mouth will be sore for 7-10 days after the surgery.

How to take care of wisdom teeth stitches?

Following the wisdom tooth extraction, your oral surgeon will explain how to take care of the blood clots and keep your stitches free from infections.

Caring for the stitches and blood clots is necessary to avoid dry socket, which is a painful condition.

Every patient is different, and so is their surgery site; therefore, it’s important to listen to your doctor’s instructions.

Typical aftercare instructions

24 hours after the extraction, gently rinse your mouth with salty water. But please remember not to spit or swish, or it might dislodge the blood clot. Open your mouth and let the water fall out.

Sometimes dentists prescribe chlorhexidine solution, an antibacterial rinse, and it minimizes the risk of oral infection.

If your dentist prescribes you antibiotics, please make sure to complete the prescription for the best results.

For the first 5-7 days after removal, avoid using a toothbrush or flossing on the surgery site or what your dentist recommends.

Foods to avoid after wisdom teeth removal

For the first few days, only go with soft foods and drinks and avoid anything that might cause the stitches to come out. Here are a few things good for your mouth.

  • soup
  • smoothies
  • mashed potatoes
  • yogurt
  • scrambled eggs

Stay away from sticky, crunchy, and chewy foods, including:

  • fruits with tiny seeds such as raspberries, strawberries
  • nuts
  • popcorn
  • raw carrots
  • corn on the cob
  • steak
  • chewing gum

What else to avoid?

Avoid anything that might cause suction movement in the mouth as it can disrupt the stitches. Suction can also be damaging for a blood clot that is beginning to form over the extraction site.

Things to avoid are:

  • spitting
  • smoking
  • drinking alcohol
  • rigorous exercise
  • drinking hot liquids
  • drinking from a straw

Your oral surgeon can guide you on when you can get back to these activities.

My wisdom teeth stitches came out. What to do?

Sometimes you may notice that your loose stitch is coming out, or it may fall out completely. You shouldn’t worry too much until you have symptoms of infection or your wound has opened or is bleeding.

If your loose stitch is a source of irritation to the gums of cheeks, consult your dentist and let him know about your situation. Please don’t think about cutting, pulling, or removing a loose stitch without asking your dentist or oral surgeon.

Your wisdom teeth stitches should remain at their place until the wound closes. If you pull them out before the right time, it can deteriorate the healing process. Early pulling can also lead to infection due to the introduction of germs and bacteria into the extraction site.

How long does it take for wisdom teeth holes to heal completely?

After the stitches dissolve, you can go back to your regular menu. You’ll also be able to return to your flossing and brushing routine. But do keep in mind that recovering from a wisdom teeth extraction procedure is a time taking process. The empty tooth socket will take around 3 to 4 months to heal entirely.

How can you tell if your wisdom teeth stitches have an infection?

Infection after a tooth extraction is not very uncommon, but you can prevent that from happening by keeping your stitches free from germs.

Signs of infection include:

  • pain
  • Inflammation
  • redness
  • oozing of pus
  • fever
  • pus or blood in nasal discharge
  • bad taste in the mouth
  • Itching in the extraction hole

If you have a feeling that an infection might be lingering, immediately see your oral surgeon. Your doctor will most probably prescribe you some antibiotics. Since oral infections are really good at worsening quickly, don’t take too long to visit your oral surgeon and explain the symptoms you are experiencing.

If you’re looking for an oral surgeon in Houston, Texas, or nearby areas, head to Pearl Shine Dental. To schedule an appointment, call 281-477-7200. We would love to hear from you!

Does everyone get stitches after wisdom teeth removal?

It depends. If your dentist or oral surgeon cuts into the gum tissue, you may need stitches. Your provider will let you know if the stitches will dissolve on their own or if you need to schedule a follow-up appointment to have them removed. For some extractions, you might not need stitches at all.

Why did I not get stitches after wisdom teeth removal?

For "simple" dental extractions, sutures are not always required. When there is minimal manipulation of the gums and bones AND the patient has a healthy immune system, it is reasonable to expect that the tooth site will heal with no sutures.

Are wisdom teeth holes always stitched?

Most wisdom teeth surgeries today do not require traditional stitches. If sutures are required, dissolvable material is usually preferred. Traditional sutures will need to be removed within a specific time period after your appointment; do not delay your follow-up visit.

How long does it take for a wisdom tooth extraction to heal without stitches?

It can take up to 2 weeks to recover fully after wisdom teeth removal. Looking after the wound properly can help a person to heal as quickly as possible. Wisdom teeth are large teeth that grow at the very back of the mouth.